Discharge valve for fire extinguishers



March 15, 1949. v SIEBENS 2,464,268

DISCHARGE VALVE FOR FIRE EXTINGUISHERS Filed July 26, 1946 //\\fllll! I7 L 31 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 15, 1949 DISCHARGE VALVE son FIRE ax'rmcmsnaasNorman H. Siebens, East Orange, N. J., assignor to C-O-Two FireEquipment 00., Newark, N. J a corporation of Delaware Application July26, 1946, Serial No. 686,515

9 Claims. (Cl. 169-20) The present invention relates generally to fireextinguishers and more particularly to a discharge mechanism forcontainers, cylinders or tanks holding fluid under pressure, such forexample as carbon dioxide.

One object of the invention is to provide novel and improved meanscomprising a heat actuated device or a temperature responsive device anda valve controlled thereby for automatically releasing the fluid fromthe container upon a certain increase in temperature in the vicinity ofsaid heat actuated device.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel and improved meansfor releasing the fluid from the container by remote manual control.

' Still another object of the invention is to Provide a novel andimproved fire detecting unit which is quickly and positively responsiveto temperature rises, which can be easily and quickly applied to a fireextinguisher, and which can be protected from injury and cannot beloosened by vibration, pulled or knocked from the extinguisher.

Other obiectsare to minimize the possibility of accidental discharge orrelease of fluid from the container and to simplify the inspection ofthe release mechanism and the container.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved automatic,self-contained, compact fire 2 line (not shown). Thecylinder orcontainer may be but one of a battery of cylinders similarly connectedto the same line. The port 5 serves as a discharge port as well as aport for filling the cylinder.

At its upper end, the vertical delivery passage 4 is enlarged to form aseat for a safety disk 9 held in place by a ported baflle or anti-recoilscrew plug l0 threaded into said enlarged portion. A washer Il may beinterposed between the disk and its seat. The safety disk is arrangedto. rupture at a predetermined pressure so as to prevent the building upof excessive pressure in the cylinder. The anti-recoil memberdistributes the fluid in equal amounts in opposite directions to preventrecoil upon discharge of fluid upon accidental puncturing of the disk 8.I

The fitting 2 is formed with a lateral extension I! having its outer endexternally and internally screw threaded and with a port l3communicating at its inner end with the vertical delivery passage 4 andat its outer end with an enlarged chamber ll formed in the extension II.On its opposite side, the fitting is formed with an enlarged extensionand with a chamber l6 communicating at its inner end with the deliverypassage 4 and at its outer end with an internal- 1y screw threadedrecess or chamber II formed in the extension IS. The chamber I1 isgreater detecting and extinguishing device as one unit. so in diameterthan the chamber [6 thereby form- Still other objects and advantages oft e invention will be apparent from the following description thereoftaken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is avertical sectional view of a fire extinguisher embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view, parts being shown in section; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional taken on the plane of the line l4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown fragmentarily a cylinder 1 forliquefied carbon dioxide or other highly compressed fluid. An outletfittin 2 is threaded into the neck of the cylinder in the 45 usualmanner.

The fitting 2 has a central vertical delivery passage or inlet 4communicating with a port 5 which extends laterally therefrom andthrough an externally screw threaded extension 5 on the fitting to theexterior thereof. An elbow sleeve 1, threaded on to the extension 6, isinternally threaded at its free end to receive a baflle or anti-recoilmember 8, and is externally screw ing a shoulder l8 between them.

Slidably mounted in the chamber I6 is a main piston type check valvemember I8 having a cupshaped portion at one end with a gasket or 5packing washer 2| therein, and having a reduced view on an enlargedscale 40 ortion 22 at its other end forming a shoulder 23. The piston isactuated by a stem or rod 24 having one end fastened thereto.. The stemex-.

tends through the port I3 into and through the chamber ll in theextension II. The periphery of the piston type check valve member I! issealed with respect to the chamber. ill by means of a gasket 25 carriedby the piston. A sealing gasket 26 is located in the chamber II and heldby a nut 21 screwed into the chamber to prevent the escape of gas aroundthe stem and the walls of the chamber during discharging and rechargingof the cylinder, the nut also constituting a close fitting guide for thestem.

The piston is formed with a pressure equalizer channel or passage 28leading from the delivery passage 4 to a central port 29 in the reducedcates with chamber [6 at the rear of the piston.

threaded at said end for connection to a delivery I! An externallyscrew-threaded plug member 30 is threaded into. the .threaded recess llof the extension IS. The plug member is formed with i inner end, theplug member 39 is formed with areduced portion forming a shoulder 33,and on its outer end itis formed with an annular flange 33. A guard inthe form of a spider member 31 has an annularbase 38 suitably fastenedto the flange portion of the plugmember and supports heat responsivedevice, which preferably comprises a bulb 39 having. a reduced neckportion 49 extending into the recess 3| of the plugmem ber. The bulb isformed of quartz or quartzoid or other suitable material capableofwithstanding high temperatures and is fllled with a liquid having alow freezing point. A washer 4! may be interposed between the innershoulder 35 on the plug member and the shoulder 19 Of the recess H; forsealing the parts at such point.

A cup-shaped auxiliary valve member 42 carrying a gasket 43 ispositioned in the outer recess 3| of the plug member 30 and is normallyheld on its seat 44 formed an the bottom wall of said recess by ,aspring 45, one end of which is seated against 'said valve member whileits other end is seated against a thrust ring 46 encircling the reducedneck portion of the bulb. The inner end of the opening 39 in the wall 33of the plug member is covered by a screen 41 seated in a countersunkportion 48 formed in the bottom wall of the inner recess 32 of the plugmember. The screen member 41 prevents foreign matter, such as grit andmoisture, from entering or clogging opening 34 during automaticoperation of the discharge mechanism. The spring 45 maintains a sealingforce on the valve member 42 and gasket 43 independently of the tendencyof the gasket 43 to take a set.

The gas from the cylinder which passes through the by-pass 23 and port29 builds up a pressure in the ,inner recess 32 of the plug member andin the chamber I6 behind the piston type check l3. This pressure forcesthe piston type check into its forward home position, that is, towardthe right as viewed in Fig. 1, against its seat 53 formed on the bottomwall of chamber !6. Due to the pressure equalizing ports 28 and 29,equalization of gas pressure exists in chamber l6 and in the container iunder normal charged conditions of the container. The piston type checkl9v blocks the passage of gas from the delivery passage t to and throughdelivery port 5. A spring 49 is provided to urge the piston checkagainst its seat 50 when no gas pressure is present. The cross-sectionalarea of the portion of the piston type check valve member 30 sliding inthe chamber I6 is made such with respect to the area of the seat 30 thatfor the desired working pressure of the fluid in the container 4, andwith the fluid pressure released behind the valve member, the valvemember will be urged to the left against the restraining actions of thespring 49 and against the frictional resistance of the gasket 25.

The apparatus for actuating the piston manuof and having an internallyscrew threaded opening 33. A retainer wire ring 33' retains the swivelcoupling nut 32 and'the housing 3| together and provides means forvarying the position of a cable outlet. v

Rotatably mounted in the housing on the hub portion is a pulley 51carrying a screw member 38 which extends into the screw threaded opening33 in threaded engagement therewith. A disc member 59 is carried on theinner end of the screw member in alignment with the outer free end ofthe stem 24 of the pisto'n'and is adapted to abu against the end of thestem for moving the piston.

The pulley is actuated by a cable 60 wound around its outer peripheryand which has one end anchored in an internally screw threaded opening8| in the pulley by means of a headlessslotted screw or bolt 62. Thecable passes outwardly of the housing through an integral guide sleeveor cable outlet 63 formed on said housing to apparatus (not shown) forpulling said cable.

In operating the apparatus from a remote point or manually at the site01' the apparatus, when it is desired to release fluid from thecylinder, the cable is pulled to rotate the pulley 51 in such adirection as to feed the screw member 58 inwardly or toward the left, asviewed in Fig. 1. This results in moving the stem 24 of the piston tothe left forcing the piston ofl of its seat in chamber l3, permittingthe release of fluid .from the container I through the delivery passage4, the delivery port 5 and into the delivery line.

In automatic operation, when the temperature in the protected spacewhere the extinguisher is positioned reaches a predetermined degree dueto a fire or the like, the bulb 39 will burst due to the expansion ofthe liquid therein. When this happens, the resistance against the outerend of the spring 45 will cease and the pressure of the gas in thechamber l6 and recess 32 of the plug member will force the auxiliaryvalve member 42 oil of its seat 44 permitting the gas in chamber I6 andrecess 32 to escape through opening 34 in the transverse wall 33 of theplug member and through the outer recess 3| in the plug member to theatmosphere. Due to the larger cross-sectional area of the opening 34 ascompared with that of the pressure equalizer channel 28, a lower gaspressure will exist in chamber 16 against the be mounted on a support bymeans of an integral ally from a remote point includes a housing 5|periorated bracket 64 on the fitting 2.

Changes in details of construction and arrangement of parts may beresorted to, and parts of the invention may be used without other partswithout departing from the principle or scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a container adapted to hold fluid under pressure, anoutlet fitting secured thereto and having a central delivery passage, adelivery port communicating with said passage and extending to theexterior of the fitting, a chamber formed in the fitting and communicating with said passage, a piston movable in said chamber and normallyclosing communication between said passage and said delivery port, an

--extension formed on said fitting and having a recess communicatingwith said chamber, a plug member in said recess and communicating withsaid chamber, a spring interposed between said plug and said piston forurging said piston to port behind said piston whereby fluid from thecon-- tainer is adapted to move the piston away from port closingposition against the action of said spring thereby permitting fluid toflow through said delivery port.

2. In combination, a container adapted to hold fluid under pressure, anoutlet fitting secured thereto and having a central delivery passage, adelivery port communicating with said passage and extending to theexterior of the fitting, a

chamber formed in the fitting and communicating with said passage, apiston movable in said chamber and normally closing communicationbetween said passage and said delivery port, an

extension formed on saidfitting and having a recess communicating withsaid chamber, a plug member in said recess and communicating with saidchamber, said plug member having an inner recess and an outer recesswith a wall between said recesses, said wall having an opening there-.through connecting said outer and inner recesses, a spr ing interposedbetween said plug and said piston, a valve member in said outer recessof the plug member for closingthe opening through the wall of said plugmember, said piston having means for by-passing fluid'from the deliverypassage to the rear of the piston for holding the piston in port closingposition by the fluid pres- 4. In combination, a container adapted tohold fluid under pressure, an outlet fitting secured thereto and havinga central delivery passage, a delivery port communicating with saidpassage, a chamber formed in the fitting and communicating with saidpassage, a piston movable in said chamber and normally closingcommunication between said passage and said delivery port, an

sure behind the piston, means including a spring for holding the valvemember in position for clos ing said opening, and means including afracturable bulb for releasing the fluid pressure behind said pistonwhereby fluid from the container is adapted to move the piston away fromport closing position to permit fluid to flow through the delivery port.

3. In combination, a container adapted to hold fluid under pressure, anoutlet fitting secured thereto and having a central delivery passage, adelivery port communicating with said passage,

" extension formed on said fitting and having a recess communicatingwith said chamber, a plug member in said recess, said plug member havingan inner recess communicating with said chamber and an outer recess witha wall between said recesses, said wall having an opening therethroughconnecting said outer and inner recesses, a spring interposed betweensaid plug and said piston, a valve in the outer recess of the plugmember for closing the opening in the wall of said plug member, saidpiston having means for bypassing fluid from the delivery passage to therear of the piston for building up pressure at said point for holdingthe piston in port closing position, and means in common for holding thepiston in port closing position and for releasing the pressure behindsaid piston including a heat fracturable bulb carried by the plug memberand a spring between said bulb and said valve whereby upon fracture ofthe bulb the fluid behind said piston escapes through the opening insaid wall thereby permitting the fluid from the container to move saidpiston away from its port closing position against the action of thespring between the-plug and piston. v i

5. In a fl-re extinguishing apparatus, a container adapted to hold fluidunder pressure, an outlet fltting secured thereto and having a deliverypassage and a delivery port communicating therewith, a chamber in saidfitting, means for closing communication between said passage and portincluding a piston member movable in said chamber, means for holdingsaid piston member in port closing position and a detachable heatactuated assembly for automatically releasing said piston holding meansto permit fluid to flow a chamber formed in the fitting andcommunicating with said passage, a piston movable in said chamber andnormally closing communication between 'said passage and said deliveryport, an extension formed on said fitting and having a recesscommunicating with said chamber, a plug member in said recess, said plugmember having an inner recess communicating with said chamber and anouter recess with a Wall between said recesses, said wall having anopening therethrough connecting said outer and inner recesses, a springinterposed between said plug and said piston, a spring-pressed valve inthe outer recess of said plug member for closing the opening in the wallof said plug member, said piston having means for by-passing fluid fromthe delivery passage to the rear of the piston for building up pressureat said point for holding the piston in port closing position, means forholding the valve in the closing position and means including afraoturable bulb for releasing the fluid pressure behind said pistonwhereby fluid from the container is adapted to permit fiuid to flowthrough the delivery port by moving said piston away from its portclosing position.

through said delivery port, said assembly including a plug memberadapted to be detachably mounted on said fitting and having an openingcommunicating with said chamber, a heat fracturable bulb supported bysaid plug member, a, valve in the plug member normally closing theopening in said plug member, a spring between I said bulb and valvemember and a guard surrounding said bulb.

6. A container adapted to hold fluid under pressure, an outlet fittingsecured thereto and having a delivery passage, a delivery portcommunicating with the delivery passage, a chamber formed in the fittingand communicating with the delivery passage, a piston valve membermovable in the chamber and normally closing communication between thedelivery passage and the delivery port, the fitting having a recess, aplug member in the recess, resilient means interposed between the plugmember and the piston valve member for urging the piston valve member toport closing position, the piston having means for by-passing fluid fromthe delivery passage to the rear thereof for normally holding the pistonvalve member in port closing position, and means for releasing the fluidpressure behind the piston valve member whereby fluid from the containerpressure, an outlet fltting secured thereto and having a deliverypassage, and ,a delivery port communicating with the delivery passage,the

fltting having .a chamber iormed therein and, communicatingwith thedelivery passage,a piston valve member movable in the chamber andnormally closing communication between the delivery passage and thedelivery port. the piston valve member having a passage extending to therear thereof and 'in fluid communication with the delivery passage. andthermo-responsive means for releasingthe iluid pressure from behind theadapted to hold fluid under pressure, an outlet fltting secured theretoand having a delivery assage and a delivery port communicating therewithand a valve chamber, valve means in the chamber .ior closing" fluidcommunication between the passage and the port, fluid pressure operablemeans for holding said valve member in port, closing position, a heatresponsive means assembly for automatically releasing the fluid pressureoperable means to permit fluid to flow through the o the delivery port.

, 9. A container adapted to hold fluid under pressure, an outlet flttingsecured thereto and having a delivery passage, a delivery portcommunicating with the delivery passage, a chamber formed in the fittingand communicating with the delivery passage. a piston valve'membermovable in the chamber and normally closing communication between thedelivery passage and the delivery port,

the fltting having an opening leading to the chamber for the insertionof-the piston valve member, means closing the opening, the piston havingmeans tor by-passing fluid from the delivery passage to the rear thereoffor normally holding the piston valve member in port closing position,and

15 means for releasing the fluid pressure from behind the piston valvemember whereby fluid from the container is adapted to move the pistonvalve member away .from port closing position, permitting fluid to newfrom the container through NORMAN a, mans. I

nnrnnimcns crrnn The following references are'of record in the g5 flieof this patent:

- UNITED STATES PATENTS I deliveryport, the ass m ly includingv -a pl sNumber Name Date member adaiited to be det ably mo e 1,206,485 TagueNov. 28, 1916 the flttingand having a pa sage communicating 80 1,241,664Rustige Oct. 2, 1917 with the chamberua h at f a t e bu b 2,291,313Knight Aug. 4, 1942 ported by the plug member, and plug member passageclosing means normally held in the closed position by the heatiracturable bulb.

2,398,775 Beekley et a1. Ap1'2'28, 1848 Disclaimer 2,464,268. No1-man H."Siebens, East Orange, N J. Discnanen Vanvn ron FIRE 'Exrmemsnnns.Patent dated Mar. 15, 1949. Disclaimer filed Dec. 30,

Hereb enters this disclaimer to claims {fifl' ll Gazette January 31,1.950.]

1, 6 and 9 of said patent.

